A Lying Snake and a Faithful God.

"And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so." (Genesis 1:24)

Have you ever wondered why snakes were created? Most people do not like snakes! And there are many other pesky little insects and rodents that are not our favorites. Why were they created? We really do not know the answer, but God is infinitely wise, and He does know. God wanted everything that He created to be observed and appreciated. Well, it can be hard to appreciate a mosquito, can't it? Perhaps you are thinking right now of another "creature" that God created…and you can't help but wonder "why?" In Genesis 3, we read about the first "serpent" (snake).

Did you know that the first "lie" happened in God's own Garden of Eden? Eve was approached by the serpent, and she was sharing with the serpent the things God had told her. God had told her that if she ate of the fruit of a certain tree (the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil), then she would die.

Did you know that this snake could talk? Do you know what he told Eve in the garden that day? He said, "Ye shall not surely die." In other words, he told Eve that God was lying to her! Does God lie?

Who was this serpent? This serpent was the Devil, the "Father of lies." The snake was Satan himself in snake form! Because of what he did, lying to Eve and tempting her to disobey God, the serpent was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:14 "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above the cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life."

Today, this same Devil wants us to believe in the lies he tells, just as he wanted Eve to believe him when he acted like he knew better than God. Like a slithering snake, Satan comes right up to us with his tempting lies. He comes with very clever words and tries to make us believe that God is wrong and he is right.

The Devil is not the only one who tempts us. Our own selfish, fleshly nature is a dangerous enemy, too! And the world wants us to have a worldly attitude that leaves God out or calls God a liar. God wants us to be aware of the dangers that are in this world and to run from them when we are tempted.

God is faithful. That means He is always true and trustworthy. You do not ever have to doubt (wonder) whether God is being honest with you or not. Do you remember that there are people who want you to doubt God? Do you keep in mind that you need to run from the Devil's lies? The next time you see a snake slithering along a path, let it be a reminder to you. God never lies, but the Devil and others would have you think so. Do what Eve should have done when the serpent told his lies! Turn away and run from temptations to doubt God and His Word. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to "put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

God is trustworthy because He is always faithful and never lies.

My Response: » Do I ever start to doubt (wonder) whether something that God has said is really true? » What should I do when I am tempted to think God might not be faithful?

Elisabeth Elliot

“Today is mine. Tomorrow is not my business.”

Born to missionary parents in Belgium on December 21, 1926, Elisabeth Elliot was only a few months old when her family moved to the United States. Her father was the editor of the Sunday School Times – a Sunday School paper read and distributed by hundreds of churches around the country.

Elisabeth Elliot is best-known for her marriage to the missionary, Jim Elliot, who was captured and killed in Ecuador by Auca natives in January of 1956. Their daughter Valerie was only 10 months old when Jim was killed, and Elisabeth was heartbroken over their loss. She could have given up and gone home like most people would have done.

But instead, Elisabeth chose to stay. She continued working with the very same people group who had taken her husband’s life. She met two Auca women who agreed to live with her as roommates for one year. Because of her friendship with these ladies, she was able to reach into the tribe and win over many souls to Jesus Christ.

When Elisabeth and Valerie returned to the United States, two years after the death of Jim Elliot, Elisabeth began writing and speaking. Her most famous book is titled Through Gates of Splendor: the true story of Jim Elliot and the other four young missionaries who were speared to death while trying to share the Gospel with the Aucas in Ecuador.

Elisabeth Elliot, whose unmistakable courage encouraged many around the world to consider Who God is and why His Gospel is so important, is recognized now as one of the most influential Christian writers and speakers of the 20th century.

What would it take for you to give up on God and what He wants you to be doing? Elisabeth lost her husband and yet was still concerned about the souls of those who killed him. Do your decisions magnify God’s grace and truth in a powerful way in front of people who are watching you?

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

Description of God

The Lord...My Fortress - Jehovah MetsodhathiPsalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

Question & Answer

Did God create the unseen world, as well?

Yes. Colossians 1:16 – "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him."

BIG Christian Word

Blasphemy - (blas'fa-me)

The word blasphemy means to make remarks in speech, writing or action that mocks God. The blasphemer is disrespectful and does not care what is said about God. The "unpardonable sin" is the sin that is not forgiven because it mocks the "Holy Spirit." (Matthew 12:31-32) "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever says a word against the son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.)